Health Notes 6/26

Health notes are for support groups, exercise classes, blood drives and similar events open to the public at no or minimal cost. Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Fairfax is sponsoring the Out of the Darkness Community Walk Saturday, Oct. 11, in Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station. Funds will benefit suicide awareness and prevention research and programs. To register, visit www.outofthedarkness.org.

The City of Fairfax Fire Department is offering classes on CPR, first aid and the use of defibrillators on Aug. 30, Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13, at Fire Station 403, 4081 University Drive, Fairfax. Cost is $50 for CPR, and $100 for CPR/first aid. Registration is required, at 703-273-8109. Visit www.americanheart.org or www.redcrossdc.org for alternative CPR classes.

HAVEN of Northern Virginia sponsors the following bereavement support groups. HAVEN of Northern Virginia is located at 4604 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org:

* Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Groups, for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. or on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m.

* Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m.

* One on One Support. A volunteer will meet with a person grieving the death of a loved one, as needed, to provide individual support. Volunteers will be carefully selected to match individual needs.

The Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors services for older adults in Northern Virginia, including in-home support services such as nonsectarian geriatric care management services and counseling for seniors and their families. Call 703-204-9100. The Jewish Social Service Agency is located at 3018 Javier Road, Fairfax.

Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group. Meets the third Monday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m., at Manor Care of Fair Oaks, 12475 Lee Jackson Highway. Facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. Call Anita Newsome, group leader, at 703- 352-7172 prior to attending for the first time.

CanSurvive. Life with Cancer sponsors a patient-led, drop-in lunchtime general cancer support group for those dealing with any type of cancer on Thursdays at noon, at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. Call 301-610-9146 or visit www.can-survive.net.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia sponsors support groups and classes for adults diagnosed with seizure disorders and caregivers. Free. For additional information, call Dana at 703-425-6669.

Thyroid Cancer Support Group. Open to thyroid cancer survivors and their adult loved ones to share information and support in this monthly meeting co-sponsored by the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association. Call 1-877-588-7904.

Spirituality Quest support group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. Call 703-698-2841.

Multiple Myeloma Group meets monthly to discuss experiences, emotions and challenges of living with multiple myeloma. The Life With Cancer Family Center is located at 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. Call 703-698-2841.

Metastatic Breast Cancer support groups provide a closed group setting with other women living with metastatic breast cancer, take place on Thursdays and Fridays. Registration is required. Call Sage Bolte at 703-208-5620.

Birthmothers is an outreach ministry for pregnant women serving Fairfax county. They match pregnant women with a specially trained friend who listens to concerns about being pregnant, the baby's father and the future. The group also connects women with practical assistance like low-cost prenatal care, housing resources or legal aid. Birthmothers is confidential and free. Call 1-877-77BIRTH.

Short-term Counseling Services offers an opportunity to discuss the challenges that follow a cancer diagnosis and to explore effective ways of coping. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Life with Cancer office at 703-698-2820.

Recovery Inc. is a nonprofit support group for depression, bipolar disorder and other nervous disease meets every Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Contact Lee at 703-777-1708.

Doorways for Women and Families provides a safe, weekly, confidential domestic violence support group. The support group meets on Tuesdays and helps current and former victims of domestic violence share feelings, thoughts and information to make healthy life choices and end abuse. Call 702-237-0881.

Burke Internal Medicine, 5631 Burke Center Parkway, offers free health evaluations for individuals ages 55 and over who have no current health coverage. Included in the offer is a free cholesterol screening, blood pressure screening, diabetes screening, personal risk assessment and consultation. To make an appointment, call Dr. Nabil Andrawis or Dr. Nashwa Gabra at 703-250-5171.